The College of Doctors in Romania (CMR) proposes the recognition of on-call activity as length of service, arguing that the effort made by doctors in such shifts, often extended and very demanding in many situations, must be correctly reflected in the professional course and in the legal rights of doctors.
“In the context of increasingly intense public debates regarding the regime of medical guards, the Romanian College of Physicians (CMR) reaffirms its commitment to support the medical profession, for the good performance of doctors’ activities, as well as for the safety of the medical act, for the benefit of patients. The doctor’s guard is a medical activity that must be managed with responsibility, assumed continuously, which involves attention, quick decisions and interventions in critical moments, but also an extensive effort of the doctor on call“, it is stated in a press release from the Romanian College of Physicians sent on Monday.
CMR supports the payment of on-call hours at the level of the current salary scales, for all segments of medical assistance, so that the on-call activity of doctors is evaluated correctly and in accordance with the level of responsibility, effort and complexity of the activity carried out.
At the same time, CMR proposes professional evaluations centered on the medical act, which take into account the difficulty of the cases managed, the risks involved and the pressure under which medical decisions are made, some even vital ones, especially within the guards.
The Romanian College of Physicians supports 12-hour guards in medical units that assume a large number of cases with complex pathology, where the effort of doctors is significantly increased.
“This position reflects the constant concern of the CMR for protecting and strengthening the medical profession, for the promotion of a health system that ensures the best care for the patient, but also respects the patient as well as the doctor. The situation of the guards and the directions stated above have been publicly presented several times by the College of Doctors in Romania, as well as in the meetings we have had with the representatives of the authorities in the last year and a half“, declared university professor Dr. Cătălina Poiană, president of the College of Doctors from Romania.
“The activity in a hospital is a continuous one that must be ensured”
The College of Doctors in Romania considers it necessary to involve the hospital management directly, together with the local authorities or those responsible, in order to identify solutions, so that the guards in the medical units are insured.
“On the other hand, it must be understood by all the factors involved that the activity in a hospital is a continuous one that must be ensured. There is a need for involvement at all levels and responsibility, so that the situation of the guards can be resolved both for the benefit of patients and doctors, as well as for the proper functioning of the health system”the statement also states.
